LIBRAR Y OF CO NGRESS. 

Shelf h^ 

ZFiRiEsiEzismEiD :B-y 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



DESCRIPTION 



SELECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 



I T/kfi , g ) 



DESCRIPTION 



OF A 



SELECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS 

RELATING TO AMERICA, 



EXHIBITED TO THE 



MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 



April 28, 1870. 



BY 



(P WILLIAM S. APPLETON. 



? 

ftcptinteo from tfje Proceedings. 

CAMBRIDGE : 

PRESS OF JOHN WILSON AND SON. 

1870. 






^ 



DESCRIPTION 



SELECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS RELATING TO 

AMERICA. 



Numbers I., II., and III. form the only complete set known to exist 
of the earliest coinage of New England. 27th May, 1652, the Gen- 
eral Court of Massachusetts ordered, " That all psons whatsoever have 
libertie to bring in unto the mint howse, at Boston, all bullion, plate, or 
Spanish coyne, there to be melted and brought to the allay of sterling 
silver by John Hull, master of the sd mint, & his sworne officers, & by 
him to be coyned into twelve pence, six pence, & three pence peeces, 
which shalbe for forme flatt, & square on the sides, & stamped on the 
one side with NE, & on the other side with XII d , VI d , & III d , accord- 
ing to the value of each peece," &c. This order remained in force less 
than six months, and probably many of the coins were remelted for the 
pine-tree issue, so that now all are rare. Not more than half a dozen 
sixpences can be found, and of the threepence only one other speci- 
men is known to collectors, and that is in the cabinet belonging to 
Yale College. Thomas Snelling, in his account of the coins of the 
English Colonies, 1769, says, "The first pieces coined at this time 
[1652], — or, rather, stamped, — were six-pences and shillings [of 
which he gives plates], having on one side NE, and on the other VI 
and XII for their respective values ; we are also told there was an- 
other sort struck with III, for three-pence, but we have never yet met 
with it in any cabinet, and even the other two are very scarce." Rud- 
ing, well known as the best authority on English coinage, says, " Those 
coins also which are stamped with NE only near the edge on the one 
side, and with the figures XII or VI in like manner, on the other, 
and commonly reported to have been struck at Newcastle, it is said 
were, as well as the last [the pine-tree money], monies of New 



4 MEDALS AND COINS 

England, and of about the same date with them." After quoting from 
Hutchinson's " History of Massachusetts Bay," the passage relating to 
them, he adds : " The three-pence spoken of above has never been 
discovered." 

Numbers IV. to XL are shillings, sixpences, a threepence, and a 
twopence of the pine-tree money, ordered by the General Court, 19th 
October, 1652, to "have a double ring on either side, with this inscrip- 
tion — Massachusetts, and a tree in the center on the one side — and 
New England, and the date of the yeare on the other side." The 
two-penny piece was not authorized till 1662. The coining of this 
money was continued for many years, and there is a great number of 
different dies for the same value. Each of the four shillings here 
shown is unlike the others, but all agree with the design ordered by 
the General Court. There are many printed accounts of this money, 
and references to the fact of coinage, which I have not thought neces- 
sary to quote here. 

In 1776, two or three pieces were prepared as patterns for a pro- 
posed coinage of copper for the State of Massachusetts. One of them 
is in my collection, and is number XII. of this series. It is thus de- 
scribed : Massachusetts state ; a pine-tree, and in the field char- 
acters resembling 1CLM, and conjectured to mean " One cent lawful 
money." Reverse : liberty and virtue ; in exergue 1776 ; the 
Goddess of Liberty, sitting on a globe, facing the left, holding in her 
right hand a liberty-cap, and with her left supporting herself by a long 
spear ; at her feet is a small animal. Copper, size 20. Nothing is 
known of its origin, but it has naturally been said to be the work 
of Paul Revere: it is considered to be unique. In 1786 the State 
ordered an issue of cents and half-cents, of which specimens follow, 
numbers XIII.-XVL, thus described: commonwealth; an Indian 
standing facing the left, resting his right hand on a bow, and holding 
an arrow in his left; before his face is a star. Reverse: Massachu- 
setts; in exergue 1787 or 1788; an eagle displayed, with an olive- 
branch in right claw, and in left arrows ; on his breast is a shield, with 
the value, cent or half-cent. 

Number XVII. is of English origin, and has an elephant on one side, 
and on the other, god : preserve : new: England : 1694. Copper, 
size 18^. It is excessively rare, not more than two or three being 
known, and came from the collection of J. J. Mickley, of Philadelphia, 
long the best in this country. 

Number XVIII. is still more rare, only one other being known to 
collectors. It is of the Bermudas or Sommer Islands, where, Captain 



RELATING TO AMERICA. O 

John Smith says, " they had for a time a certain kind of brass money, 
with a hogge on one side, in memory of the abundance of hogges 
which were found at their first landing." The coin has on one side an 
antique ship under sail, and on the other a hog, or rather a wild-boar, 
with the inscription, " sommer islands," and the value XII., showing 
that it was probably a token for a shilling. Snelling described this 
identical specimen, in 1769, as being in the cabinet of Thomas Hollis : 
it came to me from the collection of Mr. Mickley. It is of copper, 
size 20. 

In 1659, Lord Baltimore issued a coinage of silver for his province 
of Maryland ; a set of which is shown by numbers XIX.-XXL, com- 
prising shilling, sixpence, and fourpence. c^ecilivs : dns : terr^e- 
marle : &ot. ; the head of Lord Baltimore facing the left. Reverse : 
CRESCITE : et : mvltiplicamini ; his coat-of-arms and coronet, and 
at each side of it the numerals of value, XII., VI., and IV. respec- 
tively. These end the series of colonial money. 

The next few pieces are patterns, prepared before the adoption of 
the cent in 1793. Nos. XXII. and XXIII. came from the collection 
of Mr. Mickley, and are considered unique : I certainly know of no 
others, nova constellatio ; an eye surrounded by rays, between 
which are thirteen stars. Reverse: libertas . justitia . 1783; a 
wreath, within which are U. S., and the numerals 1000 and 500 re- 
spectively. These seem to be pieces of 1000 and 500 units, as 
proposed by Gouverneur Morris in 1782, and sent to the President 
of Congress as specimens in April, 1783. In this month, also, Robert 
Morris wrote : " I sent for Mr. Dudley, who delivered me a piece of 
silver coin, being the first that has been struck as an American coin." 
The smaller one is probably meant by Samuel Curwen, who wrote 
15th May, 1784: "Mr. Bartlett presented me with a medal struck in 
Philadelphia: in a round compartment stands, U. S. . 5 . 1783; 
round, Libertas et Justitia ; on the other side, in the centre, an eye 
surrounded by a glory ; the whole encompassed by thirteen stars, — 
with the legend, Nova Constellatio." The piece does not exactly an- 
swer to this description, but there is no other which comes so near. 
The design is frequently found in copper of the same year, and, with 
a slight difference, of 1785. 

Numbers XXIV. and XXV. are of the highest rarity, only two or 
three others being known. They are identical, except that one has 
on the edge the words, to be esteemed be useful. They are 
thus described: liberty parent of science & industry; in the 
field 1792; a head of Liberty facing the right, with flowing curly 



6 MEDALS AND COINS 

hair ; on the edge of the bust is the artist's name, birch. Reverse : 
united states of America; a wreath of olive, within which are 
the words one cent, and, below, t ^q. Copper, size 21. They were 
designed in Philadelphia by the artist whose name they bear, and are 
much larger than the cent as adopted, and issued in 1793. It is not 
easy to say why the design on them was not approved, as the head 
is more beautiful than is seen on the common cent, and the motto 
is certainly very expressive. There are two smaller patterns in the 
same style, which, though less rare than the large ones, are wanting 
in my collection. Numbers XXVI. and XXVII. are patterns, of the 
same year, for a dime and half-dime, with the same inscription, but 
abbreviated for the small size of the coins ; the heads are quite differ- 
ent ; each has on the reverse an eagle flying, and below, the words 
"disme" and "half disme," respectively. 

The remaining pieces here described are medals, all relating to 
American history. 

I. A map of the New World, and round it the inscription, gentes 

SERVIENT EI DONEC VENIAT TEMPUS QUO E^DEM AB IPSO SERVITU- 

tem exigent. Jer. 27, v. 7. Reverse : View of a bay, with many 
ships in it and near it; below the inscription, in seven lines: vi. 

ID SEPT. CIO.IO.CXXVIII . AUSPIC . FOED . REGIM . BELG . SOCIET . 
IND . OCCID . DUCTU . P. P . HEYNI . POTITA . EST . IN . ET . SUB , MA- 
TANZA . SINU . CUBA . INS . REGIA . CLASSE . ARGENTEA . REGNI . 

nov^e . hisp. ; around : filia babil quasi area calcabitur ab 
aquilone tempore messis eius. Jerem. 51, v. 33 et 48. Silver, 
size 40. This medal celebrates the capture of a Spanish treasure-fleet 
in the Bay of Matanzas, Cuba, in September, 1628, by the Dutch, 
under Admiral Peter Heyn, who was in consequence created Lieu- 
tenant-Admiral of Holland. I have another smaller and less interest- 
ing medal on the same event. 

II. FR . CHRIST . DE . LEVI . D . DAMPVILLE . P . FRANC . PROREX . 

America ; bust of the Duke, with long flowing hair, and in richly 
decorated armor, facing the right; below the bust, I. hardy, f. 1658. 
Reverse : Ex . te . enim . exiet . dux . qui . regat . populum . 
meum ; a shield with a coat of four quarters, on a mantle of ermine, 
and crowned by a ducal coronet. Bronze, size 31. This is a medal 
of Francois Christophe de Levi, Due de Dampville, who was first ap- 
pointed Viceroy of America in 1644, and in 1655 obtained a new 
patent as Viceroy of the Islands and Main Land of America, including 
Guiana, the country on both sides the Amazon, &c. The irreverent 
quotation on the medal must refer to the family name, and derives its 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 7 

point from the absurd claims to antiquity made by the French family 
of Levis. 

III. LUDOVICUS MAGNUS REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS ; head of Louis 

XIV., with curling hair, facing the right; below the bust, dollin. f. 
Reverse: francia in novo orbe victrix; in exergue, kebeca 
liberata, M.DC.xc. ; a crowned woman representing the city of 
Quebec, seated on a rock, resting her left arm on the shield of France, 
and pressing her right foot on a shield, which seems to bear stars ; 
behind are English flags and pine-trees, at her feet a beaver, and at 
one side the river-god St. Lawrence. Bronze, size 26. This, of course, 
refers to the melancholy failure of the expedition from New England 
against Canada in 1690. 

IV. and V. On both : lud. xv. rex christianiss ; head (dif- 
ferent on each) of Louis XV., facing the right ; below, the initials of 
the artist's name. Reverse of IV. : sub omni sidere crescunt ; in 
exergue, col. franc, de lam. 1751 ; an Indian with bow and arrows, 
standing near some plants, which I take to be tobacco. Reverse of 
V. : non vilius aureo ; in exergue, col. franc, de lam. 1755 ; 
an ancient galley, with a fleece hanging from the mast. Both are of 
copper, size 18. The latter medal probably commemorates some par- 
ticular event connected with the fur-trade. 

VI. THE GIFT OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PHILA- 
DELPHIA ; the arms of the city. Reverse : kittanning destroyed 
by col 1 : Armstrong; in exergue, September. 8. 1756; an Indian 
village in flames, in the foreground an officer and three soldiers, one 
of whom has just killed an Indian, seen falling at the right, near a 
corduroy road. Pewter, size 27. This commemorates the destruc- 
tion of an Indian village on the Ohio by troops under Col. John Arm- 
strong, of Carlisle ; to whom, with his subordinate officers, the city of 
Philadelphia voted a medal. 

VII. georgius. II. del gratia; laureate head of George II., 
facing the left. Reverse : let us look to the most high who 
blessed our fathers with peace ; in exergue 1757 ; a white man 
and an Indian seated under a tree, the former handing a pipe to the 
latter ; in the heavens the sun is shining with wonderful brilliancy. 
Silver, size 28. This medal was struck by an association of Quakers 
in Philadelphia, for the purpose of presentation to the Indians, and of 
promoting peace and friendship with them. Mine has evidently been 
worn. 

VIIL, IX., and X. all celebrate the same event. VIII., A rock, and 



8 MEDALS AND COINS 

over it a globe, inscribed, in the proper parts, Canada. America, 
resting on a prostrate naked female figure, who has just dropped a 
fleur-de-lis ; at the left is a British grenadier in uniform, and at the 
right a New-England sailor, waving his hat, and between them, on a 
scroll, pariter . in . Bella; behind the globe is the British flag, 
and, above, Fame is flying, her right hand holding a long trumpet to 
her lips, and in her left two wreaths of laurel ; in the distance are sev- 
eral boats and a high rock ; on the rock, in the foreground, t. pingo. f. 
Reverse: lovisbovrg . taken . mdcclviii; a view of the attack 
on Louisburg, taken inside a battery with soldiers and guns, from one 
of which a ball just fired is seen in the air, leaving a long track ; at 
the right is a fortified city, and at the left a lighthouse ; on the ocean 
are several ships, one of which is in flames, and a number of boats. 
Silver, size 28. IX., adm 1 ; boscawen . took . cape . breton; 
bust of the Admiral, in armor, facing the right. Reverse : louis- 
bourg ; in exergue, iul 26 1758 ; in the foreground the ocean, with 
five ships, and beyond, a curious view of the attack on the city, with 
a cannon-ball just striking a high tower. Copper, size 25. X. Same 
inscription ; the Admiral is in naval uniform, with a baton in his right 
hand. Reverse: louisburg harbour; in exergue, iul 26 1758; 
a similar scene, but reversed in position, and without the cannon-ball. 
Copper, size 23. Nothing need be said about these medals, except 
that the first is a very beautiful one. 

XL Britannia; in the field, to right, wolfe, — to left, savn- 
ders ; a classic female head, facing the left, and, below, a wreath, 
through which are crossed an antique standard and a trident. Re- 
verse: Quebec, taken mdcclix ; in exergue, soc. p. a. c; the 
winged figure of Victory, with a palm in her left hand, with her right 
places a wreath of laurel on an antique military trophy, in which is 
the shield of France, and at its foot sits a captive bound to its base ; 
beyond is seen the prow of a galley. Silver, size 25. XII., the con- 
qvest of Canada compleated ; Neptune seated, holding an oar, 
and leaning on the prow of a galley, a beaver running up his leg ; 
beyond is an antique standard, with the name amherst inscribed in a 
wreath, a lion above it ; in exergue, the shield of France, a bow, quiver, 
and tomahawk. Reverse : Montreal taken mdcclx ; in exergue, 
soc. promoting arts and commerce ; a female figure personifying 
France, seated under a pine-tree weeping; before her the shield 
of France, a sword and tomahawk, and, behind, an eagle on a rock. 
Silver, size 26. This medal is copied from the famous " Judrea Capta " 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 9 

of the Romans. Both of these were of course struck by the Society 
for Promoting Arts and Commerce to celebrate the events recorded on 
them. 

XIIL, XIV., and XV. are all in honor of one man. XIII., gvliel- 
mvs pitt ; bust of Pitt, in flowing wig, facing the left ; on edge of 
bust, t. pingo f. Reverse : the man who . having saved the 

PARENT . PLEADED WITH SUCCESS FOR HER CHILDREN. Copper, size 

26. XIV., libertatis vindex . gul : pitt ; a rude head of Pitt, 
in a wig, at three-quarter face to the right. Reverse : Britannia et 
America iUNCTyE ; a wreath, within which are two hands clasped 
over a sword with a liberty-cap on the point. Copper, size 21. This 
medal is very rare, and nothing is known of its origin. XV., the . 
restorer of . commerce. 1766. no . stamps ; bust of Pitt, facing 
the left. Reverse: thanks to the friends of liberty and 
trade; in the field, America; a man-of-war, with flags flying. 
Copper, size 18. The inscription on this piece sufficiently explains it. 
XVI., d'vlugtende americaane n van rohde yland aug* 1778 ; 
a view of Rhode Island, with soldiers fleeing across it ; to the right 
are boats filled with men, and to the left three men-of-war. Reverse : 
de admiraals flag van admiraal howe 1779 ; a British man- 
of-war. Brass, size 20 1 . This curious little Dutch medal celebrates 
the evacuation of Rhode Island by the Americans on the approach of 
the British fleet under Admiral Howe. 

XVII., JOANNI PAVLO JONES CLASSIS PRAEFECTO. COMITIA 

Americana ; bust of Paul Jones, in uniform, facing the right ; 
on edge of bust, dupre . f. Reverse : hostivm navibvs captis 

AVT FVGATIS . AD ORAM SCOTIAE XXIII. SEPT. M.DCCLXXVIIII. 

dupre . f. ; a view of the fight between the " Bon Homme Richard" 
and the " Serapis," &c. Silver, size 36. This is one of the medals 
voted by Congress, and is one of the most beautiful and interesting. 
We find allusions to it in the letters of Jones, who wrote thus, 9th 
September, 1788: "The position of the two ships is not much amiss; 
but the accessory figures are much too near the principal objects ; and 
he has placed them to windward instead of being, as they really were, 
to leeward of the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis." 

XVIII. REBELLION TO TYRANTS IS OBEDIENCE TO GOD ; a 

woman in armor, with a sword in her right hand, and a spear in her 
left, pressing her right foot on a man lying prostrate, and with her 
left foot keeping down a chain, which he holds in his left hand; near 
is a crown on the ground ; above, in a label, Virginia. Reverse : 



10 MEDALS AND COINS 

happy while united ; in exergue, 1780 ; a white man and an 
Indian seated under a curious tree, and shaking hands ; the Indian 
holds a pipe ; at the left is the ocean, on which are three vessels ; the 
piece has a loop formed of an eagle's wing and a pipe. Copper, size 46. 
Nothing whatever is known about this strange piece, nor another 
specimen. I consider it a great curiosity. 

XIX. COLUMBIA and WASHINGTON : commanded by J. 
KENDRICK ; a ship and a sloop on the ocean. Reverse : FITTED 
at BOSTON, JV. AMERICA for the PACIFIC OCEAN by 
J. Barrell, S. Brown, C. Bulfinch, J. Darby, C. Hatch, J. M. 
Pintard. 1787. Silver, size 27. An account of the voyage of these 
vessels, and the discovery of Columbia River, may be read in Green- 
how's " Memoir of the North-west Coast of North America," in which 
it is stated that each vessel took out a number of these medals, struck 
for the purpose of distribution among the natives of the places she might 
visit. Probably most of them were thus used, for they are now quite 
rare. Unfortunately the designer's name is not on them. 

XX. TH . JEFFERSON PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. 4 MARCH 1801 ; 

bust of Jefferson, facing the left; below, the initial of the artist's 
name, — R. Reverse: under his wing is protection; in ex- 
ergue: to commemorate iuly 4 1776; a female figure, in armor, 
stands at the left, supporting with her right hand a long pole, on 
which is a liberty-cap, and with her left hand holding a scroll in- 
scribed, Declar. independence, over a rock inscribed, consti- 
tution, near which are a horn of plenty, a drum, and military 
equipments ; in the air is an eagle with a wreath in his beak. Silver, 
size 29. Unfortunately, this beautiful medal has no history : I sup- 
pose it was struck by some political society to commemorate the tri- 
umph of party in the election of Jefferson. 

XXI. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

march 4. 1825; head of Adams, facing the right; on edge of bust, 
furst. Reverse: science gives peace and America plenty, 
furst. f. ; Science, represented by Minerva, supporting a spear with 
her left hand, with her right presents an olive-branch to America, 
personified by an Indian seated on a horn of plenty ; at the left, 
behind Minerva, is an eagle on a stump of a tree. Silver, size 32^. 
This is perhaps the most beautiful medal yet produced in this country. 

XXII. N. ENGLAND SOC FOR PROMOTION OF MANUFACTURES 

and mechanic arts. 1826; head of Archimedes, facing the right; 
below the bust, Archimedes, and on its edge, gobrecht. f. Re- 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 11 

verse: genius intelligence and industry triumph; a carding- 
machine, a steam-engine, and a steamboat, each in a framed panel ; 
above, the names Archimedes galileo newton franklin watt 
fulton, shedding a flood of rays over the clouds ; at the sides 
are various plants, and, below, c. gobrecht. f. Silver, size 40. 
This is also a very handsome medal ; and both this and the last 
are strangely rare, considering their recent date. The designers, 
Furst and Gobrecht, were long in the employ of the United-States 
Mint. Furst designed most of the medals presented for the victories 
of 1812-15 ; and Gobrecht, in 1836 and 1838, designed some exquis- 
ite patterns, which were so far in advance of the taste of the officers 
of the Mint, that they were not adopted. 

XXIII. HENRY CLAY ELECTED PRESIDENT A. D. 1844; head of 

Clay, facing the left. Reverse : the mill-boy of the slashes 
inaugurated march 4 T .? 1845; a man on horseback, near a mill. 
Brass, size 16. This is one of the few lying medals in the American 
series. There are several such of other countries, showing that 
medals can no more be absolutely depended on than any other form 
of historic evidences. The list of medals, of all countries, which com- 
memorate events that never took place, is long and very curious. 

The next ten medals form a series, which, for lack of a better name, 
may be called the Revolutionary Peace Medals. This includes all 
medals struck to celebrate any of the events connected with the suc- 
cessful ending of the war of American independence, with the recog- 
nition of this fact by foreign powers, and with the signing of the 
treaty by which Great Britain finally accepted it with all its conse- 
quences. Some of these medals are excessively rare, and I doubt if 
another equally extensive collection is in existence. There are one or 
two more, not here described, whose absence prevents even this from 
being an absolutely complete collection. 

I. libertas . Americana ; in exergue, 4 juil . 1776; on edge 
of bust, dupre ; a beautiful head of Liberty facing the left, with 
hair loosely streaming backwards ; over the right shoulder a pole, on 
which is a Phrygian cap. Reverse : non sine diis animosus infans. 
(Horace, Book III. Ode IV., 20); in exergue, \l oct. }J|J; on 
platform, dupre. f ; the infant Hercules in his cradle, strangling two 
serpents, while Pallas protects him, with a spear in her right hand, 
and in her left a shield charged with the lilies of France, against 
which a leopard is throwing himself. Silver, size 30. 

The dates on the reverse are those of the surrender of Burgoyne 



12 MEDALS AND COINS 

and of Cornwallis. This exquisite medal is of French work : the idea 
was Franklin's, and he caused it to be struck under his direction, 
assisted by Sir William Jones, who supplied the mottoes.* 

II. Three standing figures ; the middle one, a warrior, personifying 
Holland, with his right hand grasps that of a woman in barbarous 
dress, who leans on a shield, inscribed, de vereenigde staaten 
van noord America ; at her feet are a sceptre and broken shackles ; 
at the right is a woman, holding in her right hand an olive-branch, 
and leaning on a shield inscribed, groot brittanjen ; at her feet lies 
a snake, and behind her sits a dog, who is kept back by the extended 
left hand of the warrior ; above him, in the clouds, is an angel, carry- 
ing a liberty-cap to the United States ; in exergue, b. c. v. calker f. 
Eeverse: Aan de Staaten van Friesland ter dankbaare 
nagedachtenisse van de Landsdagen in Febr. en Apr. 
mdcclxxxii toegewtd door de burger societeit door 
Vryheid en Yver te Leeuwarden. (To the States of Friesland 
in grateful remembrance of the Assemblies held in February and 
April 1782. Dedicated by the Civic Society " Through Freedom and 
Zeal" at Leeuwarden). A right hand from the clouds holds the 
crowned shield of West Frisia. Silver, size 28. 

* These statements are proved by the following extracts from Franklin's Works, 
Sparks's edition : " This puts me in mind of a medal I have had a mind to strike, since 
the late great event you gave me an account of, representing the United States by the 
figure of an infant Hercules in his cradle, strangling the two serpents ; and France by 
that of Minerva, sitting by as his nurse, with her spear and helmet, and her robe 
specked with a few jieurs de lis. The extinguishing of two entire armies in one war 
is what has rarely happened, and it gives a presage of the future force of our growing 
empire." This medal was subsequently executed, under the direction of Dr. Franklin, 
with some variation in the device. — Letter to Robert R. Livingston, March 4, 1782, 
vol. ix. p. 173. " The engraving of my medal, which you know was projected before 
the peace, is but just finished. None are yet struck in hard metal, but will be in a few 
days. In the mean time, having this good opportunity by Mr. Penn, I send you one of 
the epreuves. You will see that I have profited by some of your ideas, and adopted the 
mottoes you were so kind as to furnish." — Letter to Sir William Jones, March 17, 1783, 
id. p. 501. " I have caused to be struck here the medal which I formerly mentioned to 
you, the design of which you seemed to approve. I enclose one of them in silver, for the 
President of Congress, and one in copper, for yourself: the impression on copper is 
thought to appear best, and you will soon receive a number for the members. I have 
presented one to the King, and another to the Queen, both in gold, and one in silver to 
each of the ministers, as a monumental acknowledgment, which ma}' go down to future 
ages, of the obligations we are under to this nation. It is mighty well received, and 
gives general pleasure. If the Congress approve of it, as I hope they will, I may add some- 
thing on the die (for those to be struck hereafter) to show that it was done by their 
order, which I could not venture to do till I had authority for it." — Letter to Robert R. 
Livingston, April 15, 1783, id. p. 515. 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 13 

This medal and the five following are of Dutch origin. The best 
explanation of the events causing them and the dates borne on them is 
found in the letters of John Adams, as printed in the " Diplomatic 
Correspondence of the American Revolution." He wrote from Am- 
sterdam, 27th Feb., 1782 : " Friesland has at last taken the provincial 
resolution to acknowledge the independence, of which United America 
is in full possession." In a later letter he communicates the resolution 
as passed 26th Feb. The action of April will be more properly noticed 
with the next medal. 

III. libera soror. ; in exergue, solemni decr. [eto] agn. 
[ita] 19 apr. mdcclxxxii; at the left an armed woman, per- 
sonifying Holland, with her right hand grasps that of an Indian queen, 
while on a pole in her left she holds a liberty-cap over the head of the 
Indian, who stands at the right, bearing in her left hand a shield 
charged with thirteen stars, a spear, and a chain which holds a leopard, 
on whose head she presses her left foot; between the figures is an 
altar, on which fire is burning, and above them are rays of the sun. 
Reverse: tyrannis virtute repulsa; in exergue, sub gallije 
auspiciis ; i. G. holtzhey fec ; an open landscape, with a high 
rock at the left, at the base of which lies a unicorn, royally gorged, 
who has broken his horn against the rock. Silver, size 28^. 

The date on this medal refers to a resolution of their " High Mighti- 
nesses, the States- General of the United Provinces, Friday, April 19, 
1782," which ends thus: " it has been thought fit and resolved, that 
Mr. Adams shall be admitted and acknowledged in quality of Envoy 
of the United States of North America to their High Mightinesses, as 
he is admitted and acknowledged by the present." 

IV. FAVSTISSIMO FOEDERE JVNCT^ . DIE VII OCTOB . MDCC- 
LXXXII; Fame seated on the clouds, supporting with her right 
hand two shields, one of Holland, the other charged with thirteen 
stars ; above them is a crown, and below, the club of Hercules and 
lion's skin ; her left hand holds to her lips a long trumpet. Reverse : 
justitiam et non temnere divos (Virgil, iEneid, Book VI. 620) ; 
in exergue, S . P . Q . Amst . sacrvm; i. g. holtzhey fec. ; at 
the left is a pyramid, on the base of which hang flowers and a scroll 
inscribed prodromvs (a forerunner) ; on the front of the pyramid 
the crowned shield of Amsterdam rests against crossed fasces ; Mer- 
cury, flying through the air, is about to place a wreath on the crown ; 
in the foreground are a basket of fruit and an anchor, on which stands 
a cock, whose left claw holds something not easily recoguizable ; in 



14 MEDALS AND COINS 

the distance is the ocean, on which are several vessels. Silver, 
size 29. 

V. The same medal, size 21. 

VI. en dextra fidesque ; in exergue, DEN. 7 OCTOBER 1782. 
i. v. b. ; at the right, a woman sits on a bale of goods, resting her 
left arm on the shield of Holland ; near her stands a pole, on the top 
of which is a liberty-cap ; her right hand is extended to receive an 
olive-branch from a man in classic dress standing at the left, who offers 
it with his right hand, and with his left supports a staff, from which 
flies the " Stars and Stripes " ; near him is a barrel, filled to overflow- 
ing with Indian corn. Reverse : Heil, vrijgestreen Amerikaan : 
Gansch Neerland neemt uw vriendschap aan. Gods gunst 
vereen twee vrije landen, tot aveerzyds nut, door vaste 
randen. (Hail to you, American, who have fought out your free- 
dom : All Netherland accepts your friendship. God's grace unite two 
free lands, to mutual good, through solid ties.) Below is a caduceus, 
between a branch of olive and a branch of laurel. Silver, size 20-*-. 

The dies for these medals were evidently prepared in advance of the 
event, for we find in Mr. Adams's letters that the signing of the trea- 
ties, which was to have taken place on October 7, was put off till the 
next day, on which, October 8, " were executed the Treaty of Com- 
merce and the convention concerning recaptures." 

VII. nederland verklaard America vry. (Netherland de- 
clares America free.) In exergue, i. m. lageman; a woman in 
classic dress, holding in her right hand a bundle of seven arrows, and 
supporting a lance, on the top of which is a liberty-cap, in her left a 
caduceus ; at her feet are a cactus and a horn of plenty, and in the 
distance are fortifications and a range of hills. Reverse : de alge- 
meene tvensch. (The universal desire.) In exergue, 1782; a 
group of bales and barrels, a boat with one mast, and a tall trident- 
headed staff, from which hang the flags of Holland and the United 
States. Silver, size 21^. 

VIII. libertas Americana; in exergue, MDCCLXXXIII; in 
field, GE ; Louis XVI. in royal robes, and on his throne, facing the 
right, pointing with his left hand to a shield charged with thirteen bars, 
which a woman, representing either Liberty or Authority, has just 
hung on a column, surmounted by a cap of liberty. Reverse : com- 
mvni consensv ; Pallas standing, facing the right, supporting with 
her right hand a spear, by the side of which an olive springs up ; her 
left hand holds a ribbon, tied in a bow, from which hang the shields 



RELATING TO AMERICA. 15 

of France, Great Britain, Spain, and Holland ; on the ground lies a 
shield with the head of Medusa. Silver, size 29. 

IX. sic hostes concordia ivngit amicos ; in exergue, prv- 
dentia & fatis ; in field to the left, maho, to right, gibr ; at the 
left a woman, in classic dress, with an olive-branch in her left hand, 
with her right grasps that of another woman, who supports with her 
left hand a pole, on which is a liberty-cap ; between the figures are a 
horn of plenty, the shields of Ireland, France, and Spain ; behind the 
first figure is the shield of Scotland, and behind the second a shield 
charged with several bars, for the United States ; in the field at each 
side is a battle between a fort and several vessels, and above the 
figures is a triangle, from which proceed rays ; in the exergue is a 
view of a large fortified seaport-town. Reverse: ensibvs ex mar- 
tis lvx pacis l^:ta resvrgit ; in exergue, ope vvlcani 1783 ; 
a woman, with an olive-branch in right hand and a horn of plenty in 
left, stands on a man in armor lying prostrate with a broken sword in 
right hand ; in the distance is an open sea, with mountains and vessels 
to left, and a battle between a fort and several vessels to right ; in the 
air above is the sun in splendor, and an angel flying to right, with a 
wreath in left hand, and in right a trumpet through which he sounds 
the words fiat pax. Tin, size 27£. 

I know nothing of the origin of this medal, and have seen but one 
other specimen, which was in the Mickley collection. On the obverse, 
allusion is made to the capture of Port Mahon in Minorca, and the 
defence of Gibraltar, both which events happened during the war of 
American independence. 

X. felicitas Britannia et America; in exergue, MDCC- 
LXXXIII Sep t . 4; at the right a woman, personifying Great 
Britain, is seated, facing the left ; by her side is a shield with the 
crosses of St. George and St. Andrew, in her left hand is a spear, 
and with her right she seems to grasp the left hand of an Indian 
queen, who advances toward her, with a bow in right hand, and a 
quiver behind her back; between them flies a dove with an olive- 
branch; the distance seems to present a view of London, in which 
St. Paul's Cathedral and the Monument are plainly seen. Reverse, 
in centre : we are one ; on a ring, from which extend thirteen rays, 
American congress ; beyond the rays a circle of thirteen rings, 
inscribed, masschs, n. hamps, connect, r. island, n. iorke, ? , 

PENSILVA, DEL AAV ARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, N. CAROLIN, S. CA- 

roli, Georgia. Tin, size 25. 



16 MEDALS AND COINS EELATING TO AMERICA. 

The date on this piece is that of the treaty by which Great Britain 
acknowledged the independence of her former colonies, now the 
United States of America. A similar piece, and the only other one I 
have seen, is in the cabinet of Charles Clay of Manchester, England, 
President of the Manchester Numismatic Society. He describes the 
edge as reading " Continental Currency," but mine has an ornamental 
milling, like some old Spanish dollars. The execution of both is very 
rude. 



